Oak Hill Observer

Happy Friday! This was a historic week for Austin ISD with the largest bond ever being passed by voters. This is a HUGE win for Oak Hill! We have already gotten a beautiful new fence, new gate (still being worked on) and reflective film on all of our windows and many doors. These are great improvements, but they will likely pale in comparison to the remodel that we are scheduled for. It is an exciting time and also an uncertain time as we work through the many changes that are likely to happen for the remodel and pretty much in designing a new building- at least on the inside. We will keep you updated with timelines and information as soon as we have more information. SO exciting for our campus!

Stay warm this weekend and if your child is missing a coat or jacket, please come look in the lost & found.

We are so thankful for the support of our wonderful parents and community!

Your Proud Principal,

Lori Komassa

• November 13: Madrone's Family Day 1-3pm
• November 14: Spirit Day- "BEE" kind for World Kindness Day- wear black and yellow
• November 15: Dual Language Info Session & Campus Tour 3:30-4:30
• November 21-25: Thanksgiving Break!
• November 27-Dec 2: Book Fair
• November 29: Picture Retakes
• December 5: CAC Meeting 3:30pm

• December 12: K-5th Grade HSR Lessons Begin

• December 13: SCA 2 Reading (3rd-5th grades)
• December 14: SCA 2 Math (3rd-5th grades)
• December 15: SCA 2 Science (5th grade)
• December 22 - January 8: Winter Holiday
• January 9: Staff Development Day
• January 10: First Day of 2nd Semester!

On November 15, at 3:30 we will be holding an informational session on Oak Hill's Dual Language program. We will be sharing information on enrollment, application process and program details. We will talk to teachers and parents, showcasing student work and visiting classrooms during the general tour. Please join us if you want to learn more about the dual language program at Oak Hill.

At 4:00, we will do a tour for ALL prospective families to Oak Hill.

Thank your TA's this week!
November 14-18 is Teaching Assistant Appreciation Week.

Our Eagles love and appreciate our wonderful TAs!! Our TAs are a tremendous help to our teachers and enrich the learning of our students. Please show them some love during their special week!

With many Austin ISD students living in food-insecure households, access to healthy food may be challenging when the district is closed. Families can use the community resources below to find free meals in their area while Austin ISD offices and schools are closed for the fall break November 21-25:

• Central Texas Food Bank

• United Way for Greater Austin - ConnectATX

• Texas Health and Human Services - Call 2-1-1 or (877) 541-7905 to speak to a live operator.

El acceso a los alimentos puede resultar difícil para muchas familias cuando el distrito cierra. Las familias pueden usar los recursos de la comunidad para encontrar comidas gratis en su área, mientras que las escuelas de Austin ISD están cerradas por las vacaciones de otoño del 21 al 25 de noviembre:

• Banco de Alimentos del Centro de Texas

• United Way for Greater Austin

• Salud y Servicios Humanos de Texas - Llame al 2-1-1 o al (877) 541-7905 para hablar con un operador

Pictures should arrive by Monday we hope and we will send them home as soon as they arrive. If you are new to Oak Hill, were absent, or don't like the pictures then we will be having retakes on Tuesday, Nov. 29. If you do not like your child's pictures, please return them to the school and then see the information below about ordering pictures for retakes.

Parents are now able to join us for Friday morning assembly beginning Dec. 2. Due to space, participation is limited to the first 50 parents to sign up. Parents need to sign up HERE by noon the Thursday before. Once the form reaches 50 people, it will no longer accept responses. The next 3 Fridays are listed for now and we will add additional dates for the spring semester. We ask that each parent that is attending sign up and assembly is limited to PARENTS only at this time. We will start here and can make adjustments to this format if necessary. Please make sure you are able to attend if you sign up so as not to take that spot from someone else.

If you are able to sign up, the office will pre-print a badge for you and you can pick it up on the front porch beginning at 7:20. If you have not been on campus this year, you will need to check in at the main office with your ID before assembly to get your badge.

We will continue to add dates to this form, so you can use the same link (above) to sign up for future dates.

Nominations for the 2023 Humanities Texas Outstanding Teaching Awards are now open. Humanities Texas will present a total of fifteen awards in three categories:

• Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award -This award recognizes exemplary contributions of teachers of humanities subjects in Texas elementary, middle, and high schools. (12 recipients)

• Linden Heck Howell Outstanding Teaching of Texas History Award -This award recognizes outstanding achievement in the teaching of Texas history at the primary and secondary levels. (1 recipient)

• Award for Outstanding Early-Career Teaching -This award recognizes exemplary contributions of early-career humanities teachers in Texas who have completed three or fewer years of teaching. (2 recipients)

All award winners will receive a $5,000 prize, with an additional $1,000 for their schools to purchase humanities-based instructional materials.

To nominate a teacher, please complete the online nomination form available on the Humanities Texas website. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, December 9, 2022. Humanities Texas will contact each nominated teacher with instructions on how to apply for the award. Applications are due Friday, February 10, 2023, and winners will be announced in May of 2023.

The mornings are getting cooler and I wanted to send out the AISD weather guidelines. We do have morning recess outside, unless it is not raining and we adhere to the guidelines. Please make sure your child dresses accordingly.

November Cafeteria Menu

Please remember to bring your ID with you EVERY time you visit campus. It is a requirement that we scan in your ID each time you come onto the campus. We appreciate you helping us to follow the procedures and keep our students safe!

Don't miss out on recognizing your special 5th Grader - Ads must be submitted by DECEMBER 31st!

Our SEL Trait of the Month for November is "SELF-DISCIPLINE". We are encouraging our students to practice “SELF-DISCIPLINE” this month and would love your help in discussing this at home. Here are a few examples of what self-discipline may look;

• Getting yourself up and into class on time every day

• Paying attention in class instead of daydreaming

• Choosing to do homework over watching a TV show or playing video games

• Doing assignments despite boredom and frustration

Are you shopping this Thanksgiving break? Consider picking up an extra item or two from the giving tree list that an OHE family needs. What is the Giving Tree? The Giving Tree is a project that we have done at OHE for many years to help get Christmas gifts to our families that are in need. This year our Giving Tree will all be online. You will be able to click on the link below to select the items you would like to purchase for the child. Once you have selected the child and gift(s) you would like to purchase, please be sure to fill in your information in the Google sign-up, so we can get a hold of you, if needed. There is an ornament number listed next to the child's age and gender and this is very important to keep track of (please be sure it is the ORNAMENT # and NOT the family number). You will need to write this ornament number on a paper with the age and gender of the child you selected and attach it to the unwrapped gift before you bring it in, so we know who the gift is for. Please be sure it is securely attached.

SIGN UP HERE: Click here to see our ornaments that are available and sign-up!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xctjVKOEDTJOlO0weNpjIC9ZcfiR4VVUsusAYUQEeug/edit?usp=sharing

***When you are ready to donate, place your donation(s) in the large box in front of the school office. If it is a gift card, please leave that at the front office. Please tape a paper with the ornament NUMBER you signed up for online (column B) and the child's gender and age on the donated gift. DO NOT wrap the gift(s). Donations are due December 9th. ***Donations of new and unopened wrapping paper, rolls of tape, and/or gift tags are also needed. Please place them in the box in front of the office as well. Thank you so much for your generosity during this holiday season!! All of our families who receive gifts are always so grateful.

Hi 5th grade families!

This will be a one stop shop for all middle school information. We will update it as we receive new information from middle schools, so keep checking back periodically. Middle School Information 2022-2023

-Mrs. Weber & Mrs. Rosales

Were you a member last year? It's time to join again!

The easiest and fastest way to join the Oak Hill Elementary PTA is at https://www.joinpta.org/. Membership in our PTA is a great way to connect with the teachers, staff, and other parents and ensure a successful school year for our learners. If you have questions, reach out to membership@ohepta.org today!

Researchers have found that when kids serve themselves, they eat the right amount. Do not worry about a “clean plate.” You can be sure your kids are eating enough if:

• They are growing;

• They have the energy to be active; and

• They do not have any health problems.

Trust your kids when they say they are full. Avoid the “Clean Plate Club.” Try these tips from the CATCH Program and help your kids learn how much they need to eat to feel full:

• Offer small amounts of food and let your child ask for more.

• Know when your kids are full. They will become restless and lose interest in their food.

• Teach your kids to take time to chew and enjoy their food. Eat slowly. Give your stomach enough time to know it’s full.

• By practicing what you preach, you will teach your kids smart eating habits!

Masks:

With the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, students, staff and visitors are not required to wear face masks when on school properties, unless they have tested positive for COVID-19. Note: Per CDC guidance, individuals with a positive COVID-19 result will be required to wear a mask for five days after returning from quarantine/isolation.

• Masks are not required, but are encouraged at any time of the school day or in any school space.
• Masks are optional at all times.Face masks will continue to be provided for any student, staff, or visitor upon request.

• All students, staff, and visitors will be allowed to make their own choice.
  

Close Contact and Contact Tracing

• Campus administrators will notify all families of positive cases on the campus using a standard notification letter. Individual classroom letters will not be sent home.

• With masking now being optional, all students and staff at the campus may be considered close contacts when there is a positive case identified.

• Campus Administrators will not be required to track close contacts.

• Any asymptomatic individual (except those who have tested positive) may remain at school as long as they are asymptomatic.

Testing Availability

• Testing sites are located at specified district sites and can be found on the COVID-19 district webpage.

• All sites will accept insurance, medicaid, and self-pay.

• Site will be updated whenever vaccines are available.

Website: www.oakhillelementary.org
Location: 6101 Patton Ranch Road, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-414-2336
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakHillElementary/
Twitter: @OakHillElem